Posted by:
Itzpapalotl
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Date: July 30, 2015 03:31PM
This is a comparison that I came up with one day while reading some comments on evolutionary psychology (a very controversial field if you didn't know.) My human development professor, a well respected PhD, loved it and was impressed by my creativity during a discussion of nature vs nurture one class.
For those unaware, I'm a pottery student as well as a psych major and have the privilege of studying under some spectacular master potters.
Pottery and ceramics sound like one of those "underwater basket weaving" elective credits that is easy, but I assure you, it's not. Throwing clay is a process that requires dedication, practice, tenacity, patience, flexibility, and a sense of humour; It's actually a lot like raising and nannying children.
Like our genetic makeup, there's several types of clay to build and throw with- Here, we will use reclaim claim, red clay, stoneware, and porcelain as examples. Porcelain is a beautiful clay to work with and creates stunning pieces, however, it's a fickle clay. If worked correctly, you can have a priceless piece that will be admired and cherished. Red clay is fairly easy to work with, but stains your clothing. Stoneware is forgiving and easy to pull back if it torques. Reclaim is the cheap clay you use when you're an amateur and can be extremely difficult to work with and stains your clothing.
Whatever clay you are stuck throwing that day, you need to prepare it properly- Slice your pieces and wedge them thoroughly, because if you don't, you'll end up with air bubbles that will crack during the bisque firing. After wedging, you shape your clay into a ball, pyramid, rectangle, or square, whatever will be easiest for you to center, cone, and pull.
After wedging, you sit down to the wheel and must throw the clay down so it sticks, otherwise it will fly off while centering and you might have to wedge all over again. There are many little tricks that distinguish a first time thrower from the master and truly will affect the outcome of your piece. If the clay is off center, the finished piece will be, too, and no amount of glazing, carving, or slip trailing will hide it. You need to cone up and down to make sure the clay is seated and homogenized, which is the well-known scene from Ghost. (She's not making a phallic symbol, she's centering and coning and Patrick Swayze keeps fucking it up.)
When the clay has been centered, seated, and coned, now comes the fun of pulling the wall. This is also a process that tales technique and patience. If you pull to hard, you risk tearing the clay, if you go to fast, you risk torquing the the shape and if you forget to compress the bottom, you'll swear when you see that S crack after the bisque firing. The right tools are essential- various ribs to shape and compress, a sponge to remove excess water, a strip of a chamois to smooth and create a lovely rim. Those who are beginners often end up with a thin rim and thick bottom because they didn't take the time to compress the rim and pull from the bottom. After the piece is finished, the potter better remember to use the wire cutter on the bottom or the piece will be stuck to the bat or wheel. Good luck getting that off when it's drying!
A week or so passes (sometimes much longer depending on the humidity and tempurature) and your piece is ready to be trimmed, and place in the bisque fire to harden it. If you followed the steps of throwing clay, your piece will come out ready to glaze, go through the second firing, and become a lovely, functional piece of art.
Do you see where I'm going with this story?
You can start out with highest grade of clay and in the hands of an amatuer, it will come out like a piece of crap. Hand a master or advanced potter a piece of reclaim, and a gorgeous piece is created, but this is ceramics and life and there are no guarantees. Even the best potters have bad days, hidden air bubbles, a klutz who knocks their greenware, an idiot who drops sponge pieces in the glazes and ruins a carefully thrown, sculpted objet d'art.
Our genetic makeup is the clay and there are always issues with any body of clay, but it's the potter, the tools, knowledge, techniques, and environment that shapes and pulls us into who we become. Some clay types are persnickety and will become damaged by the slightest misstep while others are easy to shape and finish only to be chipped or broken by someone else's carelessness.
The best potters have taken an eclectic approach, as in incorporating the best parts of their lessons and learned techniques into a manner in which they themselves can utilize.
We are more than our evolution and genetics, we're creations of our parents, teachers, friends, health, entertainment, etc... One foot wrong and a person falls hard without the tools to get back up while a person more resilient falls over and over, yet has the tools to stand back up.
I hope this isn't too out there and welcome critique and questions.